as in snort
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval
the band's sloppy playing produced only catcalls from the crowd
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catcall
Eric Hansen, Indianapolis Star, 5 Mar. 2020
When the 43-year-old came to the stage here at a university student center in the Detroit suburbs, about half of the crowd gave her a standing ovation – and the other half unleashed a chorus of boos and catcalls.
—Griff Witte, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2019
There were catcalls from a disappointed Orediggers sideline, in an attempt to shout down the young Lions cornerback, who firmly stood his ground, wearing an unbeatable smile that’s a blessing of his genes.
—Mark Kiszla, The Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2019
Should the rare Dolphins touchdown bring cheers or catcalls?
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for catcall
Noun
Meet the Fighting Irish opponents, dates and locations for 2020, along with a prominent returning opposing player Indianapolis Star
SOUTH BEND — Brian Kelly hears the whispers, which sometimes probably feel more like catcalls.
—Eric Hansen, Indianapolis Star, 5 Mar. 2020
When the 43-year-old came to the stage here at a university student center in the Detroit suburbs, about half of the crowd gave her a standing ovation – and the other half unleashed a chorus of boos and catcalls.
—Griff Witte, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2019
There were catcalls from a disappointed Orediggers sideline, in an attempt to shout down the young Lions cornerback, who firmly stood his ground, wearing an unbeatable smile that’s a blessing of his genes.
—Mark Kiszla, The Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2019
Should the rare Dolphins touchdown bring cheers or catcalls?
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for catcall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catcall
Noun
-
Soon come the snorts, the heavy body of a second hog tottering heavily from the hut.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Rodents of Unusual Size that attack Westley in a swamp work because they are played by small men in rodent suits, rather than coolly conjured from pixels; their deliberate artifice is the thrill, and Reiner provided the voice for their hideous snorts.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
There are bodily fluids, jeering crowds, and demonic Punch and Judy puppets applauding through the chaos, giving the scene the air of a demented fairy tale.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Federal agents in tactical gear, carrying firearms, moved in on the park, walking in a straight line, side by side, some on horseback, as news helicopters hovered above and nearby demonstrators jeered at them.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Sure, the scatalogical title and prurient lyrics reflected the band's age — Armstrong was fresh out of his teens at the time — but its punk sneer was rooted in sophisticated songcraft.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The obsequiousness, the sneers, the boasting, the vacant generalities, and the hand-waving bespeak fear of departing from the Trumpian orthodoxy of the moment.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To do so would be rude, politically perilous, insulting to our biggest trade partner and just plain weird.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Even if their tastes differ from yours, true friends shouldn’t insult your honest self-expression.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And Nix, often with a smirk, will return the volley.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The bus drivers do nothing to enforce the rules, and we seniors are left trudging down the bus aisle while the people in the seats smirk, look at their phones and talk to each other.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The older version of the game, called Test cricket, spreads over five full days of play, and its duration as well as its colonial-era quirks (players wear white while representing their country and take breaks during the day for lunch and tea) have often lent themselves to ridicule.—
Erin Florio,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The move was ridiculed by lawyers outside Paul Weiss, and more than 140 alums of the firm signed a letter assailing it as well.—
Meg Kinnard,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Ultimately, the resolution passed, prompting vocal boos in the audience.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The night began with boisterous boos during the pregame introduction of a player who backed out on a deal to return to the Bears for his sophomore season.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Trump was explicit about his reasons for sabotaging the monumental project by October, deriding it as a favorite of New York Democrat and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Bannon repeatedly derided the president in text messages to Epstein.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catcall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catcall. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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